Pranab lauds Delhi gang rape victim’s courage

VARANASI: President Pranab Mukherjee expressed his deep anguish and dismay over the recent incident of brutal attack on the 23-year old girl in New Delhi.
“My heart goes out to this young girl and her family who have demonstrated extraordinary courage amidst the worst adversity and I request all of you to join me in praying for her speedy recovery,” said the President while addressing the special convocation and closing ceremony of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahamana Pt.Madan Mohan Malaviya at Swatantrata Bhawan, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Tuesday.
He said that the nation has been witness to the anger and rage of the youth who have gathered on the streets of Delhi and other cities to demand stronger measures to ensure the safety of women and more stringent laws to provide deterrent penalty to criminals who endanger our women. “I am certain that the Government will take all necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future. The Prime Minister has assured that all possible efforts to ensure security and safety of women will be made,” he said.
“We, as a society, must work towards changing negative perceptions about women,” he said adding that women must be treated with respect and should be provided a safe, secure and congenial environment in which their talents can flower and they can contribute their full share in the building of the nation. “Our history, traditions, religions and cultural values as well as the Constitution demands nothing less. I hope the faculty and students of an august institution like BHU will take the lead in spreading awareness and sensitizing society at large on gender issues,” he said.
Quoting Mahamana, a great votary of women’s education, he said, “Education of our women is a matter of even greater importance than the education of our men. They are the mothers of the future generations of India. With this vision, he established a women’s college in this university. Mahamana’s emphasis on women’s education and empowerment should inspire us to redouble efforts of this regard.”